Long time member - haven't been on much for a while though. Truck is pretty much "retired" - it sits in the driveway til it snows or I need to haul stuff. I don't really have time at the moment to search this out so I will just ask...
I am considering putting a plow on the truck - and I also have been/will be hauling heavy loads of cat/dog food for the rescue group my wife and I belong to. My shocks are pretty much junk and need replaced anyway. Truck has close to 150k miles on it.
SO - can I bolt on 2500 coil springs in the front - and if so would I need to go with different shocks or just the normal ones? Would I need to modify anything to do this? AND - will 2500 leaf springs bolt on the rear? I would assume I would need longer u-bolts but other then that is it a bolt on? What shocks for the rear if I do this?
I'm not concerned with ride quality or anything like that. It's a work truck now, not a daily driver. There is a local place that makes/modifies/sells springs so I have that option too. I just wanted to see what you guys have done before I go spending $ on something like shocks and then go with heavier springs later and the shocks won't work...

 

2500 front springs are a direct swap. Give you an inch or two of lift as well. Stock shocks will be fine.

Rear 2500 springs are 3" wide, your stockers are 2.5". So, you would need hangars, and spring perchs (on the axle) to get them to fit. If you are going to go to all that work, might just as well toss the D60's under there as well.

Check out Ham Bones D60 swap thread for TONS of information.

Welcome back.

 

If you dont wanna go the work of putting 60s under them just buy an add a leaf, or new leaf packs for the 1500. And put diesel coils on the front.

How much weight are you gonna be hauling on a normal basis?

Expect your 44 to get really unhappy if you plow with it a lot

 

Thanks! What's the D60?
Like I said - truck been pretty much sitting for 3 yrs. So I am FAR from "up to date" on this stuff...
I had about 2000 pounds of food/rescue supplies on it today...
And what do you mean by "the 44 is gonna be unhappy if I do much plowing"??

 

Dana 60= 2500 axle

Dana 44= little axle, and if you start pushing with it will wear out parts sooner

2000 pounds is really pushing the limit for the 9.25. You can put more springs on it but the aaxle is still the 1500 rear axle made for a half ton

 

Ok gotcha. Not too worried about the axle. I have had well over a ton in the thing many times, including a 2800# pallet of rock I hauled 20 miles. I think I will be OK with the 2500 fronts and I looked at the local spring Co website and they can do about anything with leaf springs so good there. I do appreciate the info - will try to be on-site a bit more as well... lol

 

I have too, and the biggest thing is not being able to stop.

Yep did it one last time and felt my rear end floating back and forth so I said no more and got some dana 60s

 

That right there is one of THE BEST reasons for the axle upgrade. The 3/4 tons have MUCH bigger brakes. Even with better than two tons of dirt in the bed, (yeah, over loaded.....) I could still stop on a quarter.

 

I understand that part. Been driving big trucks for years. 5 years of heavy-haul dump trucking where if you weren't cheatin you wasn't earning.. So the stopping part isn't quite so intimidating for me - been there done that and I drive my pick-up the same way loaded as I did the dump trucks/ semis. Leave lots more room in front of you and drive slower then normal (like maybe the speed limit )
I think with the stiffer springs and new shocks I will be fine. I looked shocks and springs up last night and depending on how much the local spring guy will charge me it looks like I can do the whole deal for under $400. Couple inches of lift and stiffer ride is a plus no matter what in my book anyway...
I gotta do the plenum thing too this summer. Truck been neglected for better part of 3 years and I need to spend some time on it. I spend a lot of time working on my ZR-1 Vette - hope I get it done soon and on to the truck...

 

Do your timing chain and gears when you do the plenum as well. You will like the results.